CERTAIN WAX AND WAX/RESIN THERMAL TRANSFER RIBBONS
FROM FRANCE AND JAPAN DO NOT INJURE U.S. INDUSTRY, SAYS ITC

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is
neither materially injured nor threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain wax
and wax/resin thermal transfer ribbons from France and Japan that the U.S. Department of
Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the negative.

On April 6, 2004, the Commission terminated the investigation on imports of these products from
Korea as a result of the U.S. Department of Commerce's negative final determination regarding
imports of these products from Korea.

As a result of the Commission's negative determinations, no antidumping orders will be issued
on imports of certain wax and wax/resin thermal transfer ribbons from France and Japan.

The Commission's public report Certain Wax and Wax/Resin Thermal Transfer Ribbons from
France and Japan (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1039-1040 (Final), USITC Publication 3683, April
2004) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the
investigations.

Copies may be obtained after May 10, 2004, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the
Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-
205-2104.

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Product Description:
The products covered by these investigations are certain wax and wax/resin thermal transfer ribbons (TTR) in slit or unslit (“jumbo”) form originating from France or Japan, with a total wax (natural or synthetic) content of all the image side layers, that transfer in whole or in part, of equal to or greater than 20 percent by weight and a wax content of the colorant layer of equal to or greater than 10 percent by weight, and a black color as defined by industry standards by the CIELAB (International Commission on Illumination) color specification such that L*<35, -20<a*<35 and -40<b*<31, and black and near-black TTR. TTR is typically used in printers generating alphanumeric and machine-readable characters, such as bar codes and facsimile machines.
The petition does not cover resin TTR, and finished thermal transfer ribbons with a width
greater than 212 millimeters (mm), but not greater than 220 mm (or 8.35 to 8.66 inches) and a
length of 230 meters (m) or less (i.e., slit fax TTR, including cassetted TTR), and ribbons with a
magnetic content of greater than or equal to 45 percent, by weight, in the colorant layer.
The merchandise subject to these investigations may be classified in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at heading 3702 and subheadings 3921.90.4025 (sic),
9612.10.9030, 3204.90, 3506.99, 3919.90, 3920.62, 3920.99, and 3926.90. The tariff
classifications are provided for convenience and Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") purposes;
however, the written description of the scope of the investigations is dispositive.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigations: Final antidumping.
2. Petitioners: International Imaging Materials Incorporated (IIMAK).
3. Investigations instituted by USITC: December 22, 2003.
4. USITC hearing: March 9, 2004.
5. USITC vote: April 7, 2004.
6. USITC notification to the U.S. Department of Commerce: April 19, 2004.
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. operations in 2003: Eight.
2. Production during 2003 (1,000 msi (1)): (2)
3. Employment of production and related workers: (2)
4. U.S. producers' shipments in 2003 (1,000 msi): (2)
5. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2003 (1,000 msi): (2)
6. Ratio of quantity of total imports to apparent U.S. consumption in 2003: (2)
U.S. Imports:
1. Quantity of subject imports in 2003 (1,000 msi): (2)
2. Value of subject imports in 2003 ($1,000): (2)
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(1) Thousand square inches = msi
(2) Business proprietary information